The Silcoff QB Rankings: All 32 NFL Starting Quarterbacks Ranked Ahead of the 2026 Season

With the new NFL season right around the corner, it's time for my 2026 quarterback rankings.

These rankings focus primarily on each team's projected Week 1 starter. I've gone back and forth on several players, so to make the rankings easier to follow, I've separated the quarterbacks into specific tiers based on where I currently view them entering the season.

As always, these rankings are subject to change. The next major update will likely come around the midpoint of the season, roughly Week 9 or 10, when we'll have a much better idea of which quarterbacks are exceeding expectations and which ones are falling short.

Let's get into it.

Tier 10: Just the Worst

#32 — Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson sits alone in the bottom tier. His performance on the field was awful the last time we saw and his off-field history makes it difficult to have much positive to say about his standing in the NFL.

Tier 9: On the Brink of Going Away

#31 — Tua Tagovailoa

Atlanta Falcons

#30 — Kirk Cousins

Las Vegas Raiders

Both Tua Tagovailoa and Kirk Cousins are quarterbacks who, at this stage of their careers, raise significant questions about their ability to remain reliable starters.

Neither player looks particularly mobile anymore, and both feel like they're potentially one major injury away from their careers taking another significant turn. That's especially concerning in Tua's case given his history of concussions.

For Cousins, I think his role could ultimately become more valuable as a veteran presence and mentor for Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas. However, I don't have particularly high expectations for him as a long-term starting quarterback.

Tier 8: The Stop Gaps

#29 — Geno Smith

New York Jets

#28 — Jacoby Brissett

Arizona Cardinals

#27 — Malik Willis

Miami Dolphins

This tier is made up of quarterbacks who have shown that they can play at the NFL level and potentially stick around for a long time, but I'm not convinced any of them represent a long-term solution for their teams.

Willis is the most intriguing of the group, because I do believe there is some potential there, but I'm not convinced he's in an ideal situation to realize it.  The Dolphins should have an opportunity to draft a quarterback relatively high, and I expect them to seriously consider doing so.

Meanwhile, Smith and Brissett are bridge quarterbacks rather than players you would plan a future around.

Tier 7: The Sophomores

#26 — Cam Ward

Tennessee Titans

#25 — Jaxson Dart

New York Giants

#24 — Tyler Shough

New Orleans Saints

It felt appropriate to put these three quarterbacks together.

None of Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough or Cam Ward separated themselves enough from the others to warrant their own tier, and all three still have plenty to prove. However, I'm quietly fairly high on all three entering their second NFL seasons.

Time will tell, but for now, each of these franchises should feel like they have a QB they can feel comfortable with for the foreseeable future.

Tier 6: Size May Matter

#23 — Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers

#22 — Kyler Murray

Minnesota Vikings

As much as I want to like both players (especially Murray) I still believe size is an important consideration at the quarterback position. Both Murray and Young have limitations because of their stature, and that puts a natural ceiling on certain aspects of their games.

That said, both have already demonstrated that they can be NFL starters.

Tier 5: At a Crossroads

#21 — Aaron Rodgers

Pittsburgh Steelers

#20 — Daniel Jones

Indianapolis Colts

#19 — C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans

This is a fascinating group because all three quarterbacks are capable starters, but they're entering very different stages of their careers.

For Aaron Rodgers, the biggest question is how his career ultimately ends. If this really is his final NFL season, we're watching the closing chapter of one of the most accomplished quarterback careers in league history.

Daniel Jones is facing a completely different crossroads. Coming off a torn Achilles suffered last season, Jones was playing very well for the Colts before his injury in December. Now, the question is whether he can return to that level and play like he did last year on a consistent basis.

Then there's C.J. Stroud, who may have more pressure on him than almost any quarterback in the league.

The Texans have the potential to win the Super Bowl this season. They have what I believe could be the best defense in the NFL, which means an enormous amount of responsibility falls on Stroud.

Tier 4: All They (Pretty Much Do) Is Win

#18 — Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles

#17 — Bo Nix

Denver Broncos

#16 — Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

#15 — Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers

#14 — Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks

The biggest thing these quarterbacks have in common is simple: they win.

Baker Mayfield is the exception to some degree, as he hasn't yet led his team to a No. 1 seed or a conference championship game. However, he has still demonstrated that he can win playoff games and play at a high level.

The rest of this group has accomplished some pretty significant things.

Sam Darnold and Jalen Hurts have won the Super Bowl and won it. Brock Purdy has also reached the big game, while Bo Nix has already helped lead his team to a No. 1 seed and led his team to an AFC Championship Game apperance before having to miss that game with injury.

These quarterbacks have all demonstrated that they can win games at a high level.

The major concern with this tier isn't necessarily their ability to win. It's how much you should pay them to do it.

When quarterbacks start demanding $50 million or more per year, the standard changes. These players can absolutely win games, but they need to be paid at a price that still allows their teams to build competitive rosters around them.

Tier 3: Franchise Quarterbacks

#13 — Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders

#12 — Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville Jaguars

#11 — Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears

#10 — Jordan Love

Green Bay Packers

#9 — Jared Goff

Detroit Lions

The franchise quarterback tier is made up of players who either have already demonstrated that they can play at a high level or have the potential to reach that level.

For the most part, these are quarterbacks you can trust in big games.

More importantly, these are players you can build an entire franchise around. You can enter a season with one of these quarterbacks and feel comfortable knowing that, assuming they continue developing or maintain their current level of play, your team has a legitimate chance to compete every year.

They may not be the absolute elite of the elite, but these are quarterbacks you could realistically envision being your franchise starter for the next 7 to 10 years.

Tier 2: The Nearly Elite

#8 — Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys

#7 — Justin Herbert

Los Angeles Chargers

#6 — Drake Maye

New England Patriots

These quarterbacks are incredibly close to reaching the top tier, but each has one or two questions that keep them from getting there right now.

For Dak Prescott, the biggest thing is staying healthy. When he's on the field, he's proven that he can be an excellent regular-season quarterback. However, he still needs to show more in the playoffs to move higher on my list.

Justin Herbert faces a similar problem.

His stock has taken a hit for me because of his playoff performances. Herbert is currently 0-3 in the playoffs, and at some point, he needs to turn his regular-season success into postseason results.

Then there's Drake Maye.

I fully expect Maye to eventually make his way into Tier 1, but after just one elite season, I need to see him do it year after year before putting him alongside the very best quarterbacks in the league.

Tier 1 : The Best of the Best

#5 — Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals

#4 — Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens

#3 — Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams

#2 — Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills

#1 — Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs

And finally, we arrive at the top tier.

These are the "Big Five" quarterbacks in the NFL entering the 2026 season

I still have Patrick Mahomes at No. 1.

Despite what was a down year by his standards last season, I don't think anyone did enough to overtake him. Mahomes remains the standard at the position, and until someone consistently proves otherwise, he deserves the top spot.

Overall, I believe all five of these quarterbacks should be considered the current elite group in the NFL.

Matthew Stafford is coming off an MVP season, while Josh Allen won the MVP in 2024 and Lamar Jackson won it in 2023.

Joe Burrow is the most interesting case for me. You could probably convince me to move him down into the Drake Maye and Justin Herbert tier based on his recent lack of team success. But when Burrow is healthy and on the field, he's still playing quarterback at an elite level.

At some point, though, Burrow needs to start winning more.

Final List:

1. Patrick Mahomes — Kansas City Chiefs

2. Josh Allen — Buffalo Bills

3. Matthew Stafford — Los Angeles Rams

4. Lamar Jackson — Baltimore Ravens

5. Joe Burrow — Cincinnati Bengals

6. Drake Maye — New England Patriots

7. Justin Herbert — Los Angeles Chargers

8. Dak Prescott — Dallas Cowboys

9. Jared Goff — Detroit Lions

10. Jordan Love — Green Bay Packers

11. Caleb Williams — Chicago Bears

12. Trevor Lawrence — Jacksonville Jaguars

13. Jayden Daniels — Washington Commanders

14. Sam Darnold — Seattle Seahawks

15. Brock Purdy — San Francisco 49ers

16. Baker Mayfield — Tampa Bay Buccaneers

17. Bo Nix — Denver Broncos

18. Jalen Hurts — Philadelphia Eagles

19. C.J. Stroud — Houston Texans

20. Daniel Jones — Indianapolis Colts

21. Aaron Rodgers — Pittsburgh Steelers

22. Kyler Murray — Minnesota Vikings

23. Bryce Young — Carolina Panthers

24. Tyler Shough — New Orleans Saints

25. Jaxson Dart — New York Giants

26. Cam Ward — Tennessee Titans

27. Malik Willis — Miami Dolphins

28. Jacoby Brissett — Arizona Cardinals

29. Geno Smith — New York Jets

30. Kirk Cousins — Las Vegas Raiders

31. Tua Tagovailoa — Atlanta Falcons

32. Deshaun Watson — Cleveland Browns